With only two episodes left in the season, you’d think that this week’s show would have been a little more significant to the big picture, but alas, it only served to amplify the same points that have been made throughout the course of the last few episodes. Hernan is still missing and his handler isn’t at all pleased. Claudette couldn’t care less as long as he holds up his end of the deal (that being the arrest of the San Marcos murderers), but she might have a problem soon enough, as Hernan most definitely doesn’t want to be found. Vic seems to think it’s because he’s so deep undercover, but it’s more likely that he’s simply fallen for the gang life. If that were the case, however, why would he give Vic a heads up about the automatic weapons burglary? That remains unseen, but what is clear is that Vic has found an ally in Hiatt.

The only Strike Team member not involved in tracking down Hernan is Shane (obviously), who is spending his time doing a little side work for the Armenian mob. Pissed about the unexpected death of the gas station attendant, Shane goes to visit the mob boss, Mr. Kesakhian, but is instead greeted by his daughter, Diro (Franka Potente), who apologizes and pays him for his “troubles.” Little does Shane know that Diro is actually running the family business while her father withers away on his deathbed until, of course, he eventually figures it out. That doesn’t change his position with the Armenians, though, and it’s only going to land him in some serious trouble in the future. My money’s on the Armenian’s finding out about his involvement with the money train a few years ago, and it might just be Vic who pulls the trigger.

Nonetheless, Shane is clearly trying to make as many friends as possible, and that doesn’t exclude persuading Ronnie to his side. Of course, when Ronnie confronts Vic about Terry later in the episode, I have to admit that I was a bit surprised at how well he took it. In fact, he seemed to agree that it was necessary, and his only regret was that Vic didn’t tell him about it earlier. Wow. I always knew Ronnie was a cool dude, and I really hope he plays a major part in whatever Vic has planned for Shane.

The rest of the episode was relatively tame. Dutch and Billings work a “stab and grab” involving a designer purse racket, Tina relishes in her newfound fame, and Aceveda unleashes his plans to run for mayor. The latter is probably the most exciting prospect of the episode, but one that will no doubt be saved for the final season. After all, Aceveda is at the top of Vic’s list when it comes to people he plans to take down with him, and once Shane is out of the way, there shouldn’t be anyone else remaining.